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Mom's Vegetable Soup With Chicken or Beef(German Gemuse Suppe)

Total Time

2hrs
50mins

Prep

20 mins

Cook

2 hrs 30 mins

Nothing can beat a bowl of steaming hot soup to warm the soul! This hearty chicken (or beef) vegetable soup is especially welcome and satisfying on a cold winter's day, or if you're feeling a bit under the weather. Serve with a crusty French bread or rolls and fresh butter; would also be great topped with matzo/matzoh balls. From my mother, who has been making this soup since time immemorial. Enjoy!

Directions

To an 8 quart stock pot, add beef bone or chicken, water, bay leaf, onion chunks, and sprigs of parsley. Bring to a boil; cover, then simmer about 1 to 1 1/2 hours until beef or chicken is almost done.

Remove meat bone or chicken to a plate and let cool enough to handle. Strip meat from the bones into chunks (discard bones), and set aside.

Makes good leftovers (soup is great on day 1, but tastes even better on days 2-3), and freezes/reheats well.

VARIATIONS: May add about 6 oz. frozen peas at same time as cauliflower (increase cooking time by about 5 minutes to compensate for the cold peas). I also sometimes add a cup or two of fresh sliced zucchini and/or green beans a few minutes after adding the cauliflower. Also good with sliced hot dogs or kielbasa sausage added during the last 5 minutes or so of cooking time (enough time to heat through).